Medical Director Physician- Psychiatrist

Veterans Health Administration•Erie, PA

11d

About The Position

The Medical Director Physician-Psychiatrist provides psychiatric and addiction psychiatry services, including the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, psychotic, mood, anxiety, sexual and gender identity, and adjustment disorders. Care considers the biological, psychological, and social components of illness and supports treatment of the whole person. The position evaluates, diagnoses, treats, and consults with adolescent and adult patients, using appropriate pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, behavior modification, biofeedback, and other specified clinical approaches. It also provides care to patients with substance-related disorders and dual diagnoses, including detoxification and management of withdrawal, and ongoing treatment using individual, couples, family, and group therapies, motivational enhancement, and relapse prevention. The role includes special procedures and services for which additional qualifications may be required: clozapine therapy (Clozapine REMS certification), esketamine maintenance (specialized training), Battlefield Acupuncture (required training), and compensation and pension work (DMA registration). The physician must obtain informed consent in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, either 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Ad hoc telework may be authorized at management’s discretion. The position may be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, contract buyout program, and recruitment or relocation incentives, subject to program eligibility and approval.

Requirements

Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Completion of an ACGME- or AOA-accredited residency training program in Psychiatry.
Completion of qualifying residency training or an approved equivalent pathway under VA requirements.
Documentation of psychiatry services representative of the scope and complexity of requested privileges during the previous 24 months; waived for applicants who completed training during the previous year.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
Clozapine REMS certification for clozapine therapy privileges.
Specialized training for esketamine maintenance privileges.
Required training for Battlefield Acupuncture privileges.
DMA registration for compensation and pension privileges.
Must meet applicable physical requirements and pass a pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
Must undergo applicable background/security investigation and, if selected for a testing-designated position, pre-employment urinalysis.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.

Nice To Haves

Psychiatrist with supervisory experience.
Current certification in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology & Psychiatry, or an equivalent board.

Responsibilities

Diagnose, treat, and prevent mental, emotional, psychotic, mood, anxiety, sexual and gender identity, and adjustment disorders.
Perform history and physical examinations, including mental status and neurological examinations.
Evaluate, diagnose, provide care for, and consult on adolescent and adult patients with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
Provide pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, behavior modification, biofeedback therapy, and sodium amytal interviews (narcosynthesis), as applicable.
Obtain informed consent in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Evaluate and treat patients with substance-related disorders and dual diagnoses of addictive and psychiatric disorders.
Provide care and consultation for psychiatric patients with chemical or alcohol dependency and co-morbid psychopathology.
Manage detoxification and problems associated with substance withdrawal.
Use appropriate psychotherapeutic approaches in ongoing substance-use treatment, including individual, couples, family, and group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and relapse prevention therapy.
Perform special procedures when qualified, including clozapine therapy, esketamine maintenance, Battlefield Acupuncture, and compensation and pension services.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program student-loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000.
Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized.
Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases.
50–55 days of paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays, and possible paid CME absence.
Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs can be carried into retirement.
Possible CME reimbursement of $1,000 per year for full-time, board-certified physicians.
Free liability protection with tail coverage.
No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.
May be eligible for the Physician/Provider Contract Buy Out Program, subject to eligibility and service obligations.